Scouting Report:
STRENGTHS - A rare athlete with exceptional closing ability, Mingo is a dominating, impact defender when he plays aggressively and uses good technique. Although he does not always do it, when he anticipates the snap and is playing aggressively he has great first step quickness and the speed to out race the OT around the corner. His initial quickness enables him to play stronger than his measured size as he can jolt and drive OT backwards when he uses hands well and maintains leverage. Excellent foot quickness and agility allow Mingo to change directions in a flash, which helps him beat pass blocks with an outstanding spin move. Using his hands well to keep blockers off him helps him to consistently defeat/avoid OL run blocks to make plays on run at him. When he is unblocked he attacks the play and constantly makes big, impact plays behind the LOS.

WEAKNESSES - Mingo is not nearly as consistent as he needs to be. He goes through stretches where he pops upright at the snap and does not pass rush aggressively and when he doesn't he is non-effective. While he is muscular, he lacks the bulk to handle being a full-time DE in a 43 defense the way that most teams run their schemes. Even though he has a great spin move to beat pass blocker, he needs to tighten it up when he spins to the outside as he tends to get too far up the field after spinning and cannot get back into good position quick enough. On running plays away he does not consistently start down the LOS quickly, which limits his ability to make as many plays as he is capable of. His statistical production is not what it should have been.

SUMMARY - One of the harder players I evaluated this year, Mingo required much more time than most elite prospects to get a good feel for as he handled a number of assignments and because of his responsibilities he was not as statistically productive or involved as a player with his talent usually is. Although he will never be a big, stout run defender who can consistently anchor and shed OL run blocks at the NFL level, his use of hands, quickness and instincts help him to stay free from and avoid blocks and explode to the ball to make the play. Overall, if my team played a 43 defense I would only use a first round pick on him if the coaches were going to tailor the defensive scheme around his talents as his lack of bulk/size would hinder his production if he lined up close to OT all the time. If used as a wide rusher in a 43 scheme or an outside linebacker in a 34 scheme then I would definitely draft him in the first round as I believe he can be a dynamic, play-maker who impacts games as a run defender and pass rusher. .

Scouting Report:
STRENGTHS - Jones is an explosive athlete and when he anticipates the snap he can burst off the ball and has the speed to beat the OT around the corner. Despite lacking ideal bulk/weight, when he bull rushes aggressively he is a powerful bull rusher - His ability to rush with leverage and use his hands aggressively to jolt OT helps him play so strong. Although he almost never uses an inside pass rush move, when he wants to he can change directions fast and has an explosive burst to beat the OT back underneath. Unlike many undersized defenders, Jones does an excellent job of taking on run blocks with leverage and good hand use, which enables him to easily hold ground at the POA. He does an outstanding job of shedding TE run blocks and flashes ability to shed OT run blocks. On running plays away he consistently gets off the ball and inside backside block quickly and has the elite playing speed to chase down ball carrier in pursuit. When offenses try to pull the OL over him, he bursts into the backfield before the trapping OL can get to him and he makes the play behind the LOS. On running plays to his side of the field he does an excellent job of taking on run blocker with good technique, maintains outside force/contain, strings the play out, can shed and makes tackle.

WEAKNESSES - Despite flashing the ability to be an impact pass rusher, too often he is a non-factor rushing the QB. While he flashes rare initial quickness and the speed to get the corner, more often than not he does not burst off the ball and when he doesn't he cannot threaten as an edge rusher. He has a bad habit of stopping his feet and quitting on pass rush if his initial pass rush move is stopped. He is an upright and mechanical looking player when dropping off the ball into pass coverage. He is going to need a lot of work to become productive in pass coverage. Although he makes it look easy taking on and defeat TE run blocks, he only flashes the ability to defeat OT run blocks. Too often if an OT gets their hands on him they can tie him up and ride him out of the play, this is why he is best suited to playing OLB where he can align wider and deal more with TE blocks. His tendency to play high and bad use of hands to deal with low/cut blocks leads to him getting cut to the ground way too easily. Most concerning is that after suffering a neck injury during his freshman season at USC, he was not cleared to return to play at USC again, so it is unknown how he will fare when he takes NFL physicals.

SUMMARY - Unfortunately, Jones is one of the more disappointing players I evaluated this season because he just did not produce at a high level consistently. For a player who flashes elite explosiveness off the ball combined with the ability to make game changing plays, too often he disappeared and was a non-factor. Most effective when aligned wide in a 2-Pt Alignment, he fits best as an outside linebacker in a 34 scheme, but will need to improve playing off the ball in pass coverage to become a good all-around starter. If he is going to become a consistent pass rush then he must improve his get-off consistency and maintain leverage and aggressiveness when rushing the QB. Overall, Jones is definitely going to be drafted significantly higher than I have him rated, but I doubt he will ever become the consistent player that he flashes the ability to be. If he does not learn to pass rush with leverage and aggressiveness every snap, then he will never be consistent pressuring the QB at the NFL level because the OT's he will face at the next level are significantly better than those he faced in college. .

Scouting Report:
STRENGTHS - An under-rated athlete, Thomas has the skills to produce rushing the passer, chasing down ball carriers and in pass coverage. Aggressive rushing the passer and with a variety of pass rush moves, Thomas has consistently displayed the ability to defeat the OT to pressure the QB. Once he defeats pass blocker he has an explosive closing burst to the QB. Naturally instinctive and technically sound, Thomas does an excellent job of carrying out his responsibility on every play. He does not get fooled by miss-direction/trick plays. On running plays away he consistently makes sure the play is going away and then crashes down the line to track down the play in pursuit. He consistently maintains outside contain responsibility on outside runs to his side of the field, is able to defeat blocker and makes tackle or forces play back inside so teammates can make the play. Unlike many productive pass rushers, Thomas is consistently productive playing off the ball in pass coverage.

WEAKNESSES - The only real knocks on Thomas are that he lacks premier first step explosiveness to be an elite speed rusher and is not a top level athlete. He will likely be downgraded by some teams because his lack of great athleticism and Combine testing numbers will concern them.

SUMMARY - When I was evaluating Andrew Luck in 2011, Chase Thomas constantly jumped off the film when the Stanford defense was on the field and his play has only gotten better this season. While not the 265 pound OLB that has become popular in many 34 defenses, Thomas is more than strong enough to be a force against run blocks and productive as a "bull rusher." His consistent ability to play with great intensity and aggressiveness on every snap enables him to constantly fight through blockers to make plays all over the field. Overall, I doubt that Thomas is going to be drafted as highly as I have him rated, but I have little doubt that he will become a highly productive starting outside linebacker in a 34 scheme. He reminds me of a more athletic version of the Ravens Paul Kruger and I believe he will be a better player than him. In addition, with his playing mentality he will also likely make an immediate impact playing on special teams.

Scouting Report:
STRENGTHS - Jamie Collins is an explosive athlete with a nice build for the position, displaying good definition and a lot of muscle. He is an athlete who can challenge to make plays all over the field, versus the run or the pass. He is an explosive, quick twitch athlete who attacks the line of scrimmage to thump the ball carrier. He can really close on the ball and shows a real desire in his play. While blitzing, Collins can threaten the edge, dip his shoulder and get to the quarterback, but his real skill is athletically chasing down the ball carrier or the quarterback with his speed. Collins is a very physically gifted player.

WEAKNESSES - Collins looks to be better suited to stand up as an outside backer, rather than to play out of a three-point stance as he looks much more natural standing up. He is comfortable to make plays in space and he can really cover ground, however, his play on tape doesn't show the elite skills he displayed at the combine, and he looks more straight-line fast than anything else. At times, he looks out of sorts when moving away from the line of scrimmage and into coverage and at other times he looks perfectly natural in zone. When he gets confused, he looks to want to slow things down and stops moving his feet.

SUMMARY - Collins is a very intriguing athletic specimen who shows great straight line speed and the ability to physically attack the perimeter with his speed. He is rangy and covers a lot of ground when his assignment is to chase down the ball carrier. He is explosive and can get to the quarterback, but he looks more comfortable doing it from a blitz package and not necessarily out of a three-point stance. Collins appears to play a relentless brand of football and is an aggressive defender, and sometimes it will cause him to over pursue the ball. He is a reliable, excellent tackler who hits with real power and finishes through contact. He is always running down plays to the far side of the field and finishes through the whistle. One of his biggest strengths is the ability to close on the ball, and it is incredible to watch him close on the ball. He is very raw in his pass rush skill-set and he doesn't have a great array of moves, and once he is stopped there is no real counter move. He is a raw pass rusher but his athleticism and ability to play sideline to sideline will get him looked at early in the draft from teams that are looking for a pass rushing outside linebacker. Currently he is a carrying an early third-round grade.

Scouting Report:
STRENGTHS - Magee has very good footwork and turns his hips well, both for coverage and to change direction. Reacts well to plays and the direction of the play and closes well on the ball. Does a solid job of getting into coverage. Solid speed and quickness and does a solid job going sideline to sideline. Snaps his wrists quickly to break away from blocks, and has good range to make the tackler. Solid tackler, good form.

WEAKNESSES - While he turns his hips well, his change of direction speed could improve, needs to explode better. Needs to explode better to a play when playing in zone coverage. At times over-reacts to a play and will whiff on a tackle. Can be physical but needs to be much more physical and fight off the blocks more than he does.

SUMMARY - Magee gets off the snap well and has the ability to react well to the play. He has the ability to close quickly on a run play and also has the ability to get into coverage quickly. He is solid in m2m defense, and covers ground well in a zone set. He turns his hips well which allows him to play solid coverage. He has very good footwork and slides his feet very smoothly. Cuts nicely on his blitzes and has the ability to get to the quarterback fairly well. He has excellent range and has a knack for making great tackles from behind. He shows a quick flick of the wrists to break away from blocks in the open field to make a play on the ball. Magee can be physical but I would like to see him become more physical and show more fight in him. There are also times where he will over-react to a play and completely whiff on a tackle. He has the quickness to explode to a play and the speed to make plays sideline to sideline. Overall I feel Magee is right on the brink of being an average starter to a backup at this point. I do see athletic ability in him that will allow him to improve if he chooses. He is a very smart and sound football player and can be a solid contributor.